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Your Opinions (and mine) on Utilizing Paul George

As a superfanboy of Georgie Boy, I've been trying to figure out what it's going to take for him to turn into the player we could use before the playoffs, or at least before next season.

Before he started, I said that putting Paul in the starting lineup would invigorate and motivate him to perform at RoY-esque levels. However, in my modesty, I failed to realize he would no longer be a viable option in the offense, as all four other players would be trying to score before him. Even when he was gooning it up, he wasn't the most active, powerful player with the ball.

My scenario:

Depending on MDJ's production in upcoming practice(s), put him back in the starting lineup at SG, where he can do whatever he does, and allow Paul to play behind Danny, even so far as to be the 6th man/option. The point is to establish this, run plays for him, and let him work. MDJ's biggest asset (to me) is that he teaches the young kids how to move off-ball, defend better, and other things that Dun's good at, while allowing them to grow.

With a Goon Squad of AJ and Dahntay/Rush in the backcourt, and George at the 3, we would have a more smashmouth-style group of guys, with Josh moving the ball more than usual (power guard), and Foster rebounding and boxing out and such.

Though the pressure of becoming the lead bench option could be a hassle, it might be better than having Paul stand in the corner and get 2-3 touches per quarter, not counting an additional 2 incidentals (rebounds, saves, etc.). Looking at Paul George as our possible future star, we need to be ready to put him into action. We should have been letting him make mistakes earlier in the season, before the playoff push, rather than putting him in the starting lineup and letting him stand still.

I also would like to see him start working 1-on-1 with Lance to improve his dribbling and overall handling. It's one of the few "skills" I see him lacking, and the one that seems to cause more problems/turnovers than any of his other offensive/defensive mistakes.

Of course, I understand that we really shouldn't switch much up right now, being in our playoff push. We can't afford to make too many mistakes and have them attributed to "botched lineups". However, if Rush's offensive off-ball production (those catch-and-shoot jumpers he's been shooting/making lately) gets to a tolerant point, he may be more valuable with the starters.

Re: Your Opinions (and mine) on Utilizing Paul George

However, in my modesty, I failed to realize he would no longer be a viable option in the offense, as all four other players would be trying to score before him.

You can leave him where he is and let him get the experience of being on the floor without being a scoring option, or (as you say) he can be back on the goons as a higher level scoring option and, in my opinion, get BETTER experience and MORE confidence even though he is "benched".

That would mean someone like (cue screams of anguish and pots of boiling oil) Dunleavy as a starter when he returns, or (cue screams of anguish and pots of boiling oil) Rush, since neither should be thought of as a high option scorer (Dunleavy is a scoring facilitator who will be a high option under some circumstances but will disrupt the opponent's defense in most).

BillS

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Or throw in a first-round pick and flip it for a max-level point guard...

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Re: Your Opinions (and mine) on Utilizing Paul George

When George is on the floor with the starting line-up he plays like the new guy at a pick-up game who doesn't want to shoot because he doesn't want people to think he's a ballhog. When he plays with the second unit he seems to know he's the best guy on the floor and is more comfortable and assertive.

Outside of Granger, our starting line-up has about 6 or 7 years of NBA experience combined. I wouldn't mind starting Dunleavy or Rush just to have George off the bench getting more shots. He needs to get more shots up even if they're misses.

Re: Your Opinions (and mine) on Utilizing Paul George

The SG position is a position that I have trouble figure out what to do. I think with who our other 4 starters are we won't see much difference between them. I think Rush is finally finding his role on the team coming off the bench, I don't think George gets much benefit playing with our starters, and I believe Dunleavy would be much more beneficial guarding SFs instead of SGs. It seems like every day I change my mind. Right now I am leaning towards starting Dunleavy, and having Rush and George as co-6th man.

Re: Your Opinions (and mine) on Utilizing Paul George

It seemed like they called Paul's number more often when he first started playing big minutes. I remember them giving him the ball at the end of quarters and letting him run out the clock with a drive to the basket. He looked good doing it. I'd tell the point guards to make sure Paul got an isolation play 2 or 3 times a game. Let's develop that skill and let him apply it in games. I think he'll score enough times that it won't hurt us. And if it doesn't work then we can stop doing it.

I see that as part of a point guards job. They should make sure that each player is getting a chance to utilize their skills within the offense. Keep everything balanced and everyone happy. If Paul hasn't shot recently then the point guard should get him the ball where he likes it and let him go to work.

Re: Your Opinions (and mine) on Utilizing Paul George

You can leave him where he is and let him get the experience of being on the floor without being a scoring option, or (as you say) he can be back on the goons as a higher level scoring option and, in my opinion, get BETTER experience and MORE confidence even though he is "benched".

That would mean someone like (cue screams of anguish and pots of boiling oil) Dunleavy as a starter when he returns, or (cue screams of anguish and pots of boiling oil) Rush, since neither should be thought of as a high option scorer (Dunleavy is a scoring facilitator who will be a high option under some circumstances but will disrupt the opponent's defense in most).

Re: Your Opinions (and mine) on Utilizing Paul George

I'm in India on business and have been a cricket fan for some years since being hooked on it by a good friend in the UK. While England really didn't bother to show up for their match against Sri Lanka, the India cricket fervor has been a lot of fun to experience.

I will be "working from the hotel" on Thursday afternoon

BillS

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Or throw in a first-round pick and flip it for a max-level point guard...

Re: Your Opinions (and mine) on Utilizing Paul George

Here's the dilemma....I want PGs defense in the Starting lineup....but I can see the need for some scoring in the 2nd unit....hence the need for someone like PG or Dunleavy added to the 2nd unit to allow for the scoring....but I really would prefer to keep Dunleavy's defensive liabilities away from the Starting lineup while pairing him with BRush or Inferno. I guess the answer could be to move Inferno into the Starting lineup where he can focus more on his defense and score as a 4th/5th scoring option...then have a BRush/PG/Dunleavy 2nd unit.

Re: Your Opinions (and mine) on Utilizing Paul George

I don't know maybe Paul enjoys his little corner on offense. Not to make it a lineup thread but I want our starters to be

PG - Collison
SG - Rush
SF - Granger
PF - Hansbrough
C - Hibbert

bench to be

PG - Price
SG - Paul
SF - Dunleavy
PF - Josh
C - Jeff

Then just throw Dahntay into spot minutes here and there when someone isn't cutting it on defense. I think our bench would go from a lack of ball movement to tons of ball movement. We might lose a step on defense with Dunleavy but I really don't see him being terrible defending bench players. Plus mike can provide a spark off the bench offensively. Mike tends to wear down during long stretches but is usually pretty spot on when he has his legs under him.

Re: Your Opinions (and mine) on Utilizing Paul George

For Paul George to be the starting 2 guard on this team he really needs to improve his ball handle like right now, if he got the handle going for himself he would be really good. Since he doesn't have the handle yet i suggest using him sort of like Richard Hamiltion, have him come off curls and back screens to utilitze his mid-range game and slashing which is where he will be good for a long time in my opinion. I wish Dunleavy would rub off on him and brandon rush so they dont camp on the wings, for all that dunleavy does wrong he knows spots on the floor and moves well, something he can definately teach the other players.

Re: Your Opinions (and mine) on Utilizing Paul George

Second unit, please.

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-tr...nce-stephenson
"But, first, let us now praise famous moments, because something happened Tuesday night in Indianapolis that you can watch a lifetime’s worth of professional basketball and never see again. There was a brief, and very decisive, and altogether unprecedented, outburst of genuine officiating, and it was directed at the best player in the world, and that, my dear young person, simply is not done."

Re: Your Opinions (and mine) on Utilizing Paul George

I've been saying this for about 2 weeks now. The starting SG position is a complex position for us. It really doesn't matter who's starting, we rarely get consistent production from the position. Honestly, Dunleavy provided excellent off-ball movement for Hibbert. If you think about it, most of Hibbert's assists came from Dunleavy cutting towards the basket. As much as we hate to admit it, Dunleavy is actually the BEST finisher at the basket when he's cutting. Yes, Dunleavy has HORRIBLE one-on-one defense, but I believe he's first or second in taking charges on the team.

We NEED Paul George to score, and he was the most effective when he was coming off the bench. Rush is the most effective coming off the bench too. I believe these two alone can carry the second unit as long Josh McRoberts is out there with them. McRoberts is starting to look like he has the best court awareness on the team, and he's comfortable (as of late) at bringing the ball upcourt. I can't tell you how many times thought that Josh McRoberts is basically a small forward in a power forward's body.

On the bad side, that makes D. Jones the odd man out, but I REALLY like his "hate to lose" attitude he brings to the second unit.

Re: Your Opinions (and mine) on Utilizing Paul George

If anyone who has seen Rush play the last few weeks coming of the bench, and his increased scoring/going to the basket/moving like fire and has seen PG's role diminish into a Rush role with the starters, has at this point in time not figured out that such is not inconsistency but part and parcel of the role in the starting line-up then I wonder what you have been looking at.

I will maintain that the best starting 5 are with Rush and McRoberts in there, they are at this moment in time simply better then PG and Tyler.

Specially on the defensive end, but they are also a sure threat and KNOW how to get the ball to Roy (which is important for a plentitude of reasons).

Tyler losing himself on defense calls for irritation, calls for upset people, calls for distracted people, lapsing in defense and on offense and a halting team.

Rush is by so many of you, even more then Jmac, so underrated it aint funny anymore, the guy can flat out play but it is NOT his role!, he sticks to what he is told to do, like a good soldier.

Same goes for Josh, there's a reason these guys are closing out the winning games.

So Long And Thanks For All The Fish.

If you've done 6 impossible things today?
Then why not have Breakfast at Milliways!

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Re: Your Opinions (and mine) on Utilizing Paul George

If anyone who has seen Rush play the last few weeks coming of the bench, and his increased scoring/going to the basket/moving like fire and has seen PG's role diminish into a Rush role with the starters, has at this point in time not figured out that such is not inconsistency but part and parcel of the role in the starting line-up then I wonder what you have been looking at.

I've been saying this forever, I don't know what people expect from the 5th option in the starting unit? The Pacers scored 107 points last night, how many more points some people want to win by so PG can score more?

@WhatTheFFacts: Studies show that sarcasm enhances the ability of the human mind to solve complex problems!

Re: Your Opinions (and mine) on Utilizing Paul George

It probably would be best to start Rush and let Mike play with Paul off the bench.

Yeah....then you'll have someone create another thread about how passive BRush is on the offensive end and then calling to trade da bum ASAP. As many people that are are out there that complain about Dunleavy's defense sucking...there are an equal amount of people that hate the BRush simply disappears on the offensive end.

Re: Your Opinions (and mine) on Utilizing Paul George

On the bench behind Rush and Dunleavy, till the Pacers lock up a playoff spot. Kid hasn't done anything to impress me the last two weeks and it is "win now" mode. He got his shot, now it is time to earn your minutes Paul George.

Re: Your Opinions (and mine) on Utilizing Paul George

Yeah....then you'll have someone create another thread about how passive BRush is on the offensive end and then calling to trade da bum ASAP. As many people that are are out there that complain about Dunleavy's defense sucking...there are an equal amount of people that hate the BRush simply disappears on the offensive end.

But he doesn't dissapear! THEY ARE RUNNING OUT OF TOUCHES!

his primary job is defense, and he has to be a threat to keep the defense honest, but he is a last resort on offense, Roy, Danny, DC are ahead of him and either Josh is perhaps equal, but Tyler is surely convinced he's ahead in the pecking order, so tell me, when does he drive or shoot like he does well with the 2nd unit ??

As a defender with all respect to PG, he's still lightyears ahead of PG in locking down a man and fighting through screens.

He is trule the most underrated and under-appreciated player on the Pacers

So Long And Thanks For All The Fish.

If you've done 6 impossible things today?
Then why not have Breakfast at Milliways!